My group is gearing up to again host the bocce segment of the Mass. Senior Games on May 16, 2009. If you are going to be in the neighborhood, please consider entering a team.

We need to start a serious effort to get bocce recognized as a national event in the Senior Olympics and I am asking you to send an email supporting this effort. The details are listed below under "Bocce news".

Thanks for helping us make this important step for the growth of the game in America.

The West Frankfort, Illinois based Bocce USA hosted a league tournament on Sat., January 31 at the Bob Whitlow Memorial Bocce Courts. This event, due to the ice and snow storm which had nearly paralyzed the entire tri-state area the week before, was affectionately (or appropriately) called the "January Thaw" tourney.

Thirty-two players from throughout the Bi-county area participated in the event which began promptly at 1 p.m. Teams were selected by drawing names, with the first name drawn for each team serving as that team's captain.

Play continued throughout the afternoon and into the early evening. There were many evenly matched teams and a number of "hot contests" between the players who usually face off on Monday nights at the courts.

When the last ball was rolled and the last point was scored, it was John Maleski's team which emerged victorious, being the only team to win 5 straight games. Playing with John on January Thaw's first place team were: Mary Lynn Whitlow, Debby Bussler and Betty Stipes.

Prizes were also awarded to second, third and fourth place teams (all who played in the final round).

{Bocce Bob would be proud. The good folks In Illinois are keeping the game and his name alive.

It's not so easy to see in the small photo above, but organizers point out that "Bocce USA founder, 'Bocce Bob' Whitlow seems to be presenting the team with his outstretched hand in the poster mounted on the wall behind the team posing for the photo." Click the photo for a better view.}
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“The U.S.A. Special Olympic uses the United States Bocce Federation rules at the International (World) Special Olympics.

{That’s very good news because in the two SO World Games that I officiated in 1995 and 1999, they used the antiquated and now defunct International Bocce Association rules.}

Why the need to make different official rules for Hawaii or any place?

Having a 60'X 12' area even in a space limited area can be done. I understand a possible need for 'thrill' with the uneven turf...the thrill of the sport is plenty and does not need the 'addition'.

The multiple rules make Bocce a backyard game not a sport.

Would the same change of rules be done for soccer, baseball or American football? I don't think so. To make alternative official rules should not be done.”

{We’re trying to standardize (and revise) the USBF Open rules for tournament play, but we understand that different “home rules” might hang on in some areas. People tend to think that the way they learned to play is the “right” way and everybody else is playing incorrectly. It’s human nature, I guess.}

“I notice you have tons of fundraiser tournaments mentioned in your newsletters. My question is, does your book cover setting up and running a Bocce Fundraiser? If not where would I find the best resources for setting running and making money for my foundation?"

2010 is a qualifying year for the National Games which are scheduled for Houston, TX in 2011 (you qualify one year and represent your state the following year). This from the Senior Games 2011 web site:

It's fun to look at back issues to see where we were and where we might be headed.

Volume #4, Issue #15 - April 18, 2005

Several players weighed in on the concept of 45 degree corner boards.

"I have played in several tournaments with corner boards and find them as playing a game of billiards and not bocce. With corner boards you make the backboards live which I am not in favor of. Since the backboard is alive, I have also seen a player shoot and miss the ball only to see the ball come back off the backboard and strike the ball he was shooting at in the first place and make the point. That's Bocce? We are creating another game and trying to make the game easier. Bocce is really a game of concentration and finesse and hitting the corner of a bocce court is not finesse - actually I can do it blindfolded. I wish bocce players would experiment on making the backboard dead unless it touches another ball.

Keep the ball rolling and play the game that fits you."
Mike Conti (IL)

I’ve decided to do a third edition, re-doing almost all the photographs. I’ve got a great new digital camera and can re-take many of the shots. In addition, I’m asking readers to submit new pics – at least 300 dpi is the goal. I'm asking you and my friends like court builders David Brewer, Mike Grasser, and Tom McNutt to re-submit photos of their best courts. The new edition will probably not be much different in terms of text (although I may tighten it a bit – friends of mine say to me…”Leave it to you to write a book this thick on bocce”).

I'll need your help with this effort. Please submit high quality (300 dpi) pics (and permission to reprint) of bocce in your neck of the woods. This project will be my main focus for 2009. Please help.

Bruce Lanke of Perrysville, PA sends a couple shots of winter bocce in his neck of the woods...

"I wanted to share some pictures of our Annual Winter Bocce Tournament. We had ten hearty souls brave the 16 degree temperature and play several games on January 25th. This is our 5th year, it is more a social event than actual tournament...any excuse to play Bocce! We built a fire and dined on homemade chili. Playing in the snow is quite a different experience!

{Please follow Bruce's lead and send shots of bocce in your area... and Firepitshop.com below if cold weather bocce is your cup of tea.]

Bob and Barb Gross have introduced a new product to the bocce community. "BarbnBob Enterprise" is located in Fayetteville, PA and their new web site can be visited by clicking here http://www.bocceboard.com

They've created a cleverly conceived and well constructed miniature bocce board for indoor play. The game uses large marbles for bocce balls and a smaller metal pallino. The board is expertly crafted and features a billiard table-like (felt) playing surface. The game includes...

It looks like Bob and Barb have thought of everything. There's a bag to store the balls in, a leveling device that includes a tape measure, and even a hook in case you want to conveniently hang and display the game board on your rec room wall.

Note: on the bottom four corners of the board are adjustable knobs that you turn by hand to level the game board before playing.

This nifty product doesn't eliminate our need for indoor bocce venues in cold climes. but it is a pleasant diversion and the best constructed of these type miniature boards that I've yet seen.

Please - anyone running a tournament - do me a favor - put a notice near your tourney bracket board informing players that they can go to http://www.joyofbocce.com and "opt in" for my FREE Ezine on bocce. Click the logo to the right to opt in if you do not already receive this ezine every Monday.

Please consider designating someone as "official event photographer" and directing that person to send snapshots for us to reproduce as photos of the week. Our readers love seeing bocce action from around the continent.

February 21, 2009 - New York - Mount Vernon. PIE-zano's Pizza & Pasta in conjuction with the city of Mount Vernon proudly sponsor the 1st annual USBF sanctioned winter open bocce tournament. Open to sixteen 3-person teams). $120.00 per team includes breakfast, lunch, sponsor shirts and trophies. Contact Guy De Santis @ yonkersbocce@aol.com or 914-310-8814.

May 16, 2009 - New Hampshire - Hampstead. Massachusetts Senior Games. Triples - 3 players per team, men, women, or mixed play in one division. All participants must be at least 50 years of age. Contact Mario@joyofbocce.com or 978-686-8679.

Check out the first-rate equipment we offer. The finest measuring devices for bocce (made in UK by Prohawk for lawn bowling, petanque, and bocce) - the finest bocce balls in the world (made in Italy by Perfetta) and the number one selling instructional book on bocce in America - Check them out.Check out the merchandise